The top 3 key matchups in the Utah Jazz Summer League


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SALT LAKE CITY — This could be the most hyped summer league in Utah Jazz history.

The buzz around the state is that this team, full of young talent, could make a legitimate playoff push as soon as next season. Most NBA experts wouldn’t say the same for a team that is showcasing seven contracted players in summer league. The Jazz are in a unique position this offseason to develop all this young talent and validate that building through the draft works.

The Jazz are slated to play three games in the Utah Jazz Summer League and there are some intriguing individual matchups. Here are three of the matchups that fans should be excited to see:

Dante Exum vs. Marcus Smart

Utah’s first game of summer league action provides a marquee point guard matchup between the No. 5 and No. 6 picks of the 2014 NBA draft. Exum’s rookie campaign was underwhelming, to say the least. Offensively Exum struggled, averaging pitiful numbers for a starting NBA point guard with 4.2 ppg and 2.4 assists. Exum did show signs of becoming a solid defender with his elite length and quick hands.

Smart played a little better than Exum, statistic-wise, last season. Smart, selected to the All-Rookie second team, averaged 7.8 ppg and 3.1 assists in a season that ended in a first-round playoff exit to the eventual Finals runner-up Cavaliers. Smart came out of college seen as a defensive and intelligent point guard. He has some competition for the starting point guard position after the Celtics used their first pick of the 2015 NBA draft on Terry Rozier, who will also take part in the Utah Jazz Summer League.

Neither Exum nor Smart played very well on the offensive side of the court in their rookie campaigns. Both now have a year of NBA basketball under their belts along with the understanding of how NBA defenses look to disrupt their offensive flow. Exum and Smart are very similar players on both sides of the ball, so expect an exciting, physical game between the two second-year point guards.

Rodney Hood vs. R.J. Hunter

After Smart, Hood is the biggest second-year name to take part in Utah Jazz Summer League. Hood missed out on the All-Rookie team honors but finished his rookie campaign strongly. Hood finished the season averaging 8.7 ppg and 2.3 rebounds. The Jazz need Hood to develop a more consistent 3-point shot after shooting 37 percent last season.

Hunter was seen as one of the best pure shooters in the 2015 NBA draft. Projected to go as high as the late lottery, Hunter fell to the Celtics at pick No. 28. Hunter averaged 19.5 ppg and 4.7 rebounds his last season at Georgia State, which was highlighted by the surprise upset of Baylor in the NCAA Tournament.

Hunter has always been the No. 1 option but will most likely be option three or four this summer league for the Celtics. Hunter will have a tough time getting his low-release shot off versus taller defenders. Hood looks to take the momentum he had at the end of last season by being the most dominant player in the Utah Jazz Summer League. Hunter will find guarding Hood a formidable task.

Trey Lyles vs. Jahlil Okafor

Jazz fans still have mixed feelings on Utah taking Lyles over a couple shooters (including Hunter) in last month's draft. Now fans have the chance to see Lyles in action. Maybe. Lyles and the Jazz are still in contract discussions, meaning he might not be available for the Utah Jazz Summer League at all. The former Kentucky Wildcat put up 8.7 ppg and 5.2 rebounds in his only season with the John Calipari-led team.

Jazz fans hope Lyles is available to play Thursday versus the No. 3 pick in this year’s NBA draft. Okafor was arguably the best prospect in the draft and fell to the less-than-desirable Philadelphia 76ers. Okafor, at 6 feet 11 inches, is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. His ability to score around the basket has been compared to hall of famer Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon. Averaging 17.3 ppg and 8.5 rebounds, Okafor is expected to be a regular 20-10 guy in the league for many years.

If Lyles plays he’ll have his hands full with Okafor. Lyles will have to rely on his high basketball IQ since Okafor has a good 30 pounds on him. Lyles’ quickness and ability to shoot off the dribble will stymie many opposing bigs, like Okafor.

Other interesting players the Jazz will face in the Utah Jazz Summer League include Kyle Anderson (San Antonio), Jerami Grant (Philadelphia), J.P Tokoto (Philadelphia), Richaun Holmes (Philadelphia), Jonathan Holmes (Boston), Rozier (Boston), Jordan Mickey (Boston) and James Young (Boston). If Utah can win the notable, individual matchups, expect the Jazz to do very well in the inaugural season of the Utah Jazz Summer League. Nathan Harker is a sports writing intern currently enrolled at Brigham Young University majoring in broadcast journalism. Nathan can be reached at nathan.harker32@gmail.com or via twitter @nharker3207.

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Nathan Harker

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